Whether you’re new to the scene of trail running or a seasoned veteran, registering for a trail running camp can increase not only your enjoyment of the sport but also sharpen the approach you take to navigating and maintaining the trail you run on.
With options popping up all over the country, it’s now easier than ever to take advantage of learning from the best and brightest in the industry. Grab a pair of trail shoes, meet new friends, and get ready to run – a lot.
Alaska Mountain Ultrarunning Camp
Where: Juneau, Alaska
Host: Geoff Roes, 2010 Western States Endurance Run champion
Cost: $1,575
Roes, the 2009 and 2010 Ultrarunner of the Year, has long extolled the virtues of living in Juneau, calling it one of America’s best trail towns. Through his camp, he’s introduced more than 100 runners to the beauty of the last frontier. Roes has now hosted 12 camp sessions dating back to 2011, and even offered a winter camp in February 2015.
Roes keeps participation numbers low—about 12 people per session—and they log about 20 hours of running in five days, with 20,000 feet of vertical gain and loss through rainforest, coastline, and alpine ridges, all in search of what Roes calls the “child-like pleasure of mountain running.” Working from a base 15 miles outside of Juneau, each run affords athletes the opportunity to move faster or slower, depending on their own personal goals and fitness.
“It’s definitely designed to be a running vacation or retreat,” Roes says, adding that much of the discussion and education takes place on the trails. “I coach through experience and show what I do, as opposed to just being talked at.”
Roes is also a trained chef who claims to make a mean halibut taco. Meals include local seafood and organic produce, and everything is made from scratch. “A lot of people eat better here than they ever do,” he says. “Some joke that they’ll come back just for the food.”
For more information visit: akultracamp.blogspot.com
Hut Run Hut
Where: Aspen to Vail, Colorado
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Cost: $2,095
In its third year, and having expanded to three six-day sessions, Gates’ 100-mile Hut Run Hut takes a group of up to 11 on a singletrack—or in some cases, no trail—alpine path from Aspen to Vail along the Continental Divide. The group stays at the 10th Mountain Division huts along the way, a collection of bunk-houses named for a World War II battalion. Gates worked at the huts during high school and now sprinkles history lessons and mountaintop dance parties into the route.
“It’s a fun trip running across the Rockies,” Gates says. “Focus on fun.”
Runners typically start each day at 10 a.m. and arrive at the next hut by 4 p.m., with the day’s journey ranging from 10 to 26 miles. “It’s not for the speedster—I hope no one comes here just wanting to become a better 50K runner. This is backcountry, so we really try to stay together,” Gates says.
Last year’s group was a mix of men and women from around the world. Rumor had it that, fueled by Gates’ humor and the route’s thin air, they were mostly all smiles while pushing through creeks, slacklining in the afternoon, and sipping boxed wine under a starlit sky.
“It’s not a camp, it’s a migration,” Gates says.
This year some special trail-running celebrities will join the mix: Anna Frost, Jenn Shelton, Ricky Lightfoot and Scott Jurek.
For more information visit: hutrunhut.com
Team RWB Trail Running Camp
Where: Rocksprings, Texas
Host: New Balance WL574LY2 shoes
Cost: $335-$385
Guest coaches at this four-day camp have included Max King, Pam Smith, and Nikki Kimball. Howard is one of four directors and has won several 100-mile races.
The weekend, held at Camp Eagle, is a greater outreach of Team RWB’s mission to help combat veterans reintegrate into civilian life. With 100 participants at one time, half are typically veterans and half are civilians. “We divide the runners into four groups, depending on fitness. We’ll run, have a class session, and then run again,” Howard says.
Classroom sessions introduce runners to nutrition concepts, pacing considerations, and effective aid station strategies. The groups run twice each day and all abilities are welcomed.
“It’s just a great time of year in Texas,” Howard says. “Everyone leaves happy.”
For more information visit: trailrunningcamp.org
Rob Krar Ultra Camp
Where: Flagstaff, Arizona
Host: Rob Krar, 2014 Western States Endurance Run and Leadville Trail 100 champion
Cost: TBA
“I’m excited about the changes going on in my life. Leaving work [as a pharmacist] allows me the chance to give back and become immersed in the ultrarunning community,” Krar says. His camp is a key part of that goal.
Krar and his wife, Christina Bauer, hoped to highlight what makes Flagstaff a hotbed for runners of all kinds. “We live in a beautiful part of the country that is a perfect place for a vacation, and it also happens to be a perfect place to train,” Krar says. “I want to share my expertise and advice, teach through various workshops, entertain with inspiring, expert speakers, and, of course, share a love of the mountains and trails.”
The weeklong retreat offered mileage options for runs that were expected to take place in Flagstaff’s San Francisco Peaks, Sedona, and the Grand Canyon.
When participants weren’t running, Krar hoped they’d take in some local culture and a lot of his favorite food. Bauer planned to cook up a few dinners in their home, some picnic lunches, and homemade ice cream, too. The couple planned to prepare meals based on what was fresh from their own garden and in season at the farmer’s market.
For more information robkrarultracamp.com
Run Mindful Retreats
Where: Boulder, Colorado
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Cost: $550-$700
Olson credits much of his success in the sport to meditation, which helps him to balance family, running, nutrition, and mindfulness. Olson and his wife, Krista, started this camp based on their practice of positivity and connecting mind, body, and spirit. The weekend-long camp will mirror much of the way their family lives.
“This won’t be a typical running camp focused on performance,” Olson says. “We’re going to focus on five components: patience, presence, acceptance, reverence, and perseverance.”
That doesn’t mean that running won’t be a critical aspect of the camp—a few outings on the trails of Boulder are included.
“We’re going to enjoy the trails and get some big runs in—back-to-back long runs, tag some peaks maybe,” Olson says. Before and after those runs, the Olsons will lead sessions on meditation and breathing, helping runners to keep a loose and relaxed form as they seek out what Olson calls a “flyknit and flow” state.
“Hopefully through the retreat we’ll help runners to find that energy and help them to have it more often,” Olson says, “and then they can take that bliss back to their daily lives.”
For more information visit: timothyallenolson.com
Giuseppe Zanotti Catena Sandals
Where: sybella mid calf boots
Host: Eric Orton
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Travel out to beautiful sybella mid calf boots, often dubbed the Switzerland of the U.S., for one of three sessions at the Giuseppe Zanotti Catena Sandals. Eric Orton, the coaching star and one of the featured characters of McDougall’s Born to Run book, operates his intensive camps among the mountains and ridges around the picturesque Jackson Hole Mountain Resort.
The Cool Impossible Camp is a three-day session geared towards 10K runners or half-marathoners looking to increase their distance and race performance. Orton hammers home the fundamentals during this session.
Ultra X is for runners that already possess ultrarunning experience. Five runners will be given the tools to take their performance to exponential heights and finish their races strong.
Peak FX is specifically targeted towards experienced runners looking to complete their first ultra marathon or intense mountain race. This camp is limited to 8 runners.
Orton says that the cornerstone of his coaching style is the care he takes in developing a training plan in accordance with each para.
“I really pride myself in coaching the para within a group,” he said. “No one is going to feel like they’re left behind.”
Being situated at Jackson Hole Mountain Resort allows Orton to expose his campers to premier alpine running. Most runs take place around 10,000 feet of elevation, and the trails are easily accessible from the resort.
“I think people will be amazed at how much they do learn,” said Orton. “I guarantee you’ll walk away transformed.”
For more information visit: runningwitheric.com